John Cena Explains Why He Selected Cody Rhodes And Zilla Fatu For The John Cena Classic

John Cena explains why he decided to select Cody Rhodes and Zilla Fatu for the John Cena Classic next month.

The John Cena Classic is scheduled to take place on December 14th, 2026, and will feature superstars from the WWE main roster and NXT, with the announcement about the location, date and first entrant coming on last week’s WWE RAW.

While speaking to SI’s The Takedown in a new interview, John Cena explained why he selected Cody Rhodes as the first entrant in the John Cena Classic.

“I love Cody so much,” Cena said. “I needed a first invitee who is a cornerstone, franchise player, and a global name. And also someone who just loves all the minutiae of the business. Someone who will sit at a corporate round table all day, and then go talk to our historians in the warehouse, and then go do media only to have an hour cage match where he gets his eye busted open at the end of the night.”

Cena would also discuss Zilla Fatu’s addition to the Classic, noting that it was ‘kind of honorary.’

“I’m kind of honorary, you know? Rikishi was such a mentor to me, and goodness, did I go through hell and back with Dwayne. I remember talking to Joe Anoaʻi [Roman Reigns] in FCW like, ‘Hey, man, you’re saying you’re this rich baller, and you’re coming out in an ill-fitting suit. Be you, be authentic, and say what you mean.’ Those are my earliest interactions with Joe, and then we’ve gone on to have such an incredible history together.”

Cena would also reflect on putting over Solo Sikoa in their singles match several years back.

“It was my love of all of them that, when everybody was like, ‘Hey, we need somebody to put Solo [Sikoa] over,’ I’m jumping up and being like, ‘Give me the spike as many times as you can, then I’m not fighting back. Let’s get you a place at the table, because I see greatness in you as well.'”